Apparatus for assembling shims



Match 4, 1930. w W 1,749,620

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SHIMS Filed D80. 19, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l By XZMJZM ATTORNEY.

March 4, 1930. I. B. WINSLOW ,-APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SHIMS Filed Dec 19, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z r f/n 4 1/76 /0 w BY Z A TTORNE Y.

March 4, 1930. w s qw 1,749,620

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING SHIMS Filed Dec. 19, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 61 62 INVENTOR. 1w EQM/hs/Ow A M v A TTOR .VE Y.

Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR ASSFMBLING SHIMS Application filed December 19, 1927. I SerialNo. 241,057.

This invention relates to an apparatus for shims are held in tubes 'or magazines, and

assembling shims such: as are used inconjunction with crank shaft and connecting rod bearings of an internal combustion engine.

. In engine manufacture the main bearings of a crank shaft and the connecting rod bearings include a cap which forms half of the bearing and which is bolted in place. The practice of placing shims, whichare thin metallic spacer members, between thecap and the other half of the bearing is followed by many manufacturers. Thus, when the bearing needs to be tightened one-or more of the shims can be removed. :VVhen an engine leaves the factory it is common that bearings are equipped with a uniform shim assembly; for example, one shim assembly may consist of two relatively thick shims, say of .050 of an inch in thickness, three shims of .005of an inch in thickness and three shims of .003 of I an inch in thickness, with the thin shims dis posed between the thick ones.

Heretofore such a shim assembly has been accomplished by hand; in other words, an operative selects a thick shim, and then a requisite number of the thin shims of difi'erent sizes, finally another thick shim to make one assembly, and repeats the operation for succeeding assemblies. Theseshims may be placed upon a rod, there being'a bolt hole in the shim, and a multiplicity of shim assemblies built up on this rod.

This hand assembly operation of the shims is a slow one and an expensive one'from a standpoint of consuming time. The present invention aims to provide an apparatus for assembling the shims, and which apparatus is arranged so that a succession of shim assemblies is provided. Theapparatusshown and described herein is one suitable-for assembling shims wherein one complete assem bly consists of eight shims, as above pointed out, but it is to'be understoodthat the invention can be utilized for assembling shims wherein a different number of shims go to make up one assembly.

In the accompanying drawings: a 'Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken through an apparatus constructed iii-accordance withmy invention, showing themanner in which the how they are transferred from these magazines'automatically to an assembly rod.

Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail, on section line 22of Fig. 1, showing a Geneva movement employed for operating the device with intermittent movements.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section, on line 33 of Fig. 1, showing a construction for feeding the shims lengthwise of'their magazine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View on line H of Fig. 1, showing details of a shim transferring head.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of'a conventional form of shim.

Fig.6 is a side elevation, with parts out awa showing a vibrator device-which may be used for properly lining up a multiplicity of shims carried by an assembly rod.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective showing the magazine feed for theshims.

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the magazine indicating how the same may be removably held upon the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View of the valve and valve operating means for successively effecting suction and air pressure in a shim transferring head.

1 Fig. 10'is a plan View somewhat in diagrammatic form showing how the several shim transferring devices-are operated.

Fig. 11 is a detail insection showing how an assembly rod may be removably held upon the machine.

Fig.12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the assembly machine, showing the arrangement of the several magazines and assembly rods.

Figs/13 and 14 are diagrammatic views in side elevation and in plan, respectively, showing a construction by means of which shims of a given size contained in a pan or hopper may be originally lined up and placed on an assembly rod prior to beingplaced in a magazine on an assembly apparatus shown in Fig.1.

Figs. 15 and 16 are views taken on 0011 spending e ti nli es otB-ig. 14.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the apparatus consists of a stationary frame construction 1, and a rotatable table 2. This table is rotated with intermittent steps, as

by means of a Geneva movement- 3 (Fig. 2). The member 4 is rotated by a suitable connection, such as intermeshing pinions 5 and 5* by a motor or other suitable power means 6.

Mounted upon the rotating table 2 are uprights 10 for the purpose of carrying shim magazines 11. The magazines are preferably removably secured so that from time to time empty magazines may be taken OE and new ones placed on the machine, and for. this purpose the magazines may be provided with key-hole solts 12 for fitting over a stud 13 on each upright. A socket-like arrangement 14 may be provided for engaging the bottom of the-magazines to hold them in place.

As will be seen by reference to Fig. 12, there are eight magazines carried by the table, for providing shim assemblies embodying eight shims. The number of magazines could be varied for putting up shim assemblies utilizing any number of shims in an assembly.

These eight magazines are each fiiled with shims of one kind; for example, the magazine marked A is filled with shims of .050 of an inch thickness; magazines B, three in number, contain shims which are .005 inch in thickness; and magazines C, three in number, shims of .003 inch in thickness; and finally, magazine D, shims of .050 inch in thickness.

The table of the construction thus described makes one complete cycle in eight intermittent movements, and at each of the eight stations of rest means are provided for removing a shim from a magazine. Such means maytake the form of a shim transferring head 15, as shown in Fig. 4:. This head is hollow, and leading into the head is a flexible tube 16 so that suction and air pressure may be alternately set up in the head by means soon to be described. This head is carried by support 17 through the means of a cross head 18, and interposed springs 19. It will be noted that the transfer head is provided with two openings 20 and 21 which are spaced somewhat from each other, leaving a central mass of material 22 in the head. A shim to be transferred, as shown in Fig. 5, is referenced 23, and this shim has a central opening 24 for the purpose of permitting a bearing bolt to go therethrough. hen the head fits down over a shim to lift the same by suction, the opening 24 is underneath the cent ral'mass of metal 22 so that the shim can be lifted by suction. The head is preferably faced with a relatively soft material 15 such as rubber.

- Each of thetransferring heads is caused to move to lift a shim out of a magazine and place the same on an adjacent stationary part of the machine, and for this purpose the support 17 see Fig. 1, is carried by a palr of geared Wheels 25, which are oscillated by a rack 26. The rack is reciprocated by means of a rod 27 connected to a crank 28 on rotat ing shaft 29. Each shaft 29 has a pinion 30 which meshes with a ring gear 31 (Fig. 10). One of the shafts, referenced 29, is driven by means of a pinion 32 which meshes with a power driven pinion 5*. By this construction it will be seen that the transfer heads move in an are back and forth, to and from the two positions shown at the right hand side of Fig. 1, the one position being shown indotted lines at which point a shim removed from the magazine, and the other position being shown in full lines wherein the 7 described the several magazines on the table are each filled with shims of a given size. During each period of rest, of the intermittent movement of the table, the transfer heads, which operate in properly timed re lation, arecaused to move over and engage the top shim in each magazine. The transfer heads then move back to a position immediately over an assembly rod. Vhen the transfer heads are contacting with the top shim in the magazine, a partial vacuum is set up in the head. This may be done by a valve 45 connected by the conduit 40 to a suitable vacuum creating means (Figs. 1, 2, and 4i). For operating this valve, a cam 47 may be placed on the member 4 of the Geneva movement with the valve positioned so as to be acted upon by the cam (Fig. 2). A conduit 48 leads from this valve to the flexible tube 16 which communicates with the suction head. This cam 47 is of such a length as to maintain the partial vacuum in the head until the head is moved back over the assembly rod, at

which time the cam permits closing of the valve 45. Substantially simultaneously with the closing movement of this valve, valve 49 connected in an air pressure line, is opened by cam 50 also on the member 4, and this valve is connected by conduit 51 to the transfer head. Thiscommunicates air under pressure to the transfer head and removes the transferred shim from the head onto the assembly rod.

It will be seen, therefore, that in each period of rest a shim is transferred from each of the eight stations; in other words, the number of shims transferred are equal to one assembly. Considering any one of the 'matterto remove the shims :from the rod in units .of one: -assemblyeach. I

'lt' is necessary' to-provide means so that the -sh ms' n: -the-magazines w 1ll be near the top ,of the magazines in orderito be nearthe -tra'nsfer head Forthis purpose eachmagazine is-pr0vided vvith a shim-support- (Figs. land which is carriedbya screw 56, This screw lisprovided witha number-0f projecting devices 57 (Fig. 3):;which strike an abutment orstop-member 58 asthe table revolves, thus-:to rotate thescrew and lift the shim support. 255m: The pitch of the several screwslcanlbenvarie'd for shims. of various thicknesses inaorder that the shims are lifted aproper, distance -.each: time. The: screwis given%.-a rotational movement; In case the tdpmost-sshimin a magazine lSzIlOt precisely in proper: position -.the manner 2 in--.which .the transfer head? is mounted; .on springs will accommodate "for this inaccuracy. In v.other words, the arrangement is-such; that when: a shimsisinz proper ppsitionrthe springs 19 in the transter headare compressedsomewhat whenithezhead mOYesi down over a. magazine ofishims, with? sufiicient lee-way on: either side ofithisipoiilt toefl'ecttransfenof a shimieven thoughtherlevelbf; the shimsislomer or highersthanithe. theoretically correct point. 1

As stated-ibefore when operationisbegun,

,thesmagazinessare fillediwithl shimsand the assembly: rods:arehfreeiofrshiinsr i There are suffioient shims-sing the' magazines to permit operation of the .-.machine for; a. considerable length of;:timnpandtwhen thejshims in the magazines-areexhausted, l hei' assembly rods containtheshimsiwhich areeanrangedin units f assembly. Refilledmagazinesrcanrnew; be placed;on theumachine. together with anew I setaofgrodsum This iisdoneby merely taking off the magazines andgplacing on filledones andbysemriring;theifilledrodss, e filled rods H1 inowibeigir nt l monerator i t mee hqlcanpiclnoifsthe sh' mszin. assemb uni s and place-t em nip operipo i'e tionu bearingsa.

' iion 1. lso: contemplates means or a l 111 ooseshims setbat th y-can o pla e e-magazines... Ordinarily the a ter .being madeiarezcontained oosely containers bu iof course s ims: of va ious thicknesses refgkept separately; I provide aahonpar .65 m ldingllo e hims an t is hopper'i-ma be f y Y the BQILfeed-type, aqfeed 01 being fihhwwlliialutiijmii Anadjustahle gate tifimayibeiproyidednand with-.thisahopperl the rate of feed canbecontrolled both by adjustment of the gate and-by the adjustment of the speed of the feed roll. Theshims are fed down an inclined chute 68. This inclined chute feeds the shims into the upper end 61 of achute-BOL The angularity of this chute is such that shims will not slide down the chute by gravity: alone, but in order to produce feeding 'movement of the shims down the chute, a vibrator-62 is applied to the chute for vibrating the same, thus to aid in the movement of the shims down the chute. This chute is-provided with side Walls .andthc bottom thereof is-perfectly slanting from one side to the other, as shown-in Figs. 15 and 16. Also, the chute growssmaller nearits lowermostend, until at the extreme end it ispreferably a little wider than the width of the shim butnotso wide asthelength of a shim. i

The shimslslide down this chute, dueto the vibration. of thechute and they also tend to fall into the lowermost side of the chute, and due to the decreasein width ofthechutethe shims are caused to be positioned lengthwise of the chute, although somemay be. reversed side for side. WVhen the shims reach theend of the chute they are fed ontoa stationary support63, and for this purpose a rotating brush,64amay be provided for brushing the shimsontoithe support as they are fed down thechuteh Asgthe shims progressively reach the support-they may be transferred ontoan assembly rod,; such as one of the'rods 40, and

this maybe accomplished by'means of a transfer-.head, as shown in Fig. 4, and above described. Whenia sufficient number of shims are placed on arod, they are all lined except that some of the shims may bedisposed side for. side; In order to place all the shims in the same position this rod maybe placed on avibrator frame ,70 (Fig. '6) which is vibrated by a suitable v vibrator 71. The shims are,.more orless loosely carried by the rod and. upon the vibration of the frame, the heavy side of each shimseeks the downwardmost position under the action of gravity. As all .the'shims are identical in shape, they are soon lined up and then can be transferred into a magazine from the rod.

Therewill be, of course, hoppers and chutes as just. above described, for each size of shim, inasmuch as the shims are not mixed up but arekept separately until assembled intoipropergroups. There is a manual operationinvolvedin transferring the rod of shims fromthe feed chute onto the vibrator, and also in occasionally replacing magazines and rods on the assembly'machine, Due to the fact, however, that the rods andmagazinesarefiall of considerable length,-and also due tothe thinness of the shims, the manual operations. ,come at relatively remote times. Accordingly, asingle operator, with such a mechanism, can perform-the @various manual operations and assemble a greater number of shims in a given period of time than can quite a number of workmen assembling the shims by hand.

What I claim is:

1. A shim assembling machine, comprising in combination means for holding a plurality of magazines each containing shims of a given thickness, means for successively removing shims from the magazines and for assembling shims into groups each consisting of a predetermined number'of shims of different thickness and in a predetermined arrangement as regardsthickness.

2. An apparatus for assembling shims into unit groups wherein each group consists of a predetermined number of shims of different thicknesses, comprising a plurality of magazines each holding shims of a given thickness, means for successively removing a shim from each of the magazines and assembling them in the grouped units with the shims in a predetermined arrangement in the groups as regards thickness.

3. An apparatus for assembling shims into unit groups wherein each group consists of a predetermined number of shims of different thickness arranged in a predetermined manner, comprising a plurality of shim magazines the number of which corresponds to the predetermined number of shims in one assembly, and means for successively removing one shim from the magazines and for de positing the shims in assembledshim groups.

4. A shim assembling machine, comprising in combination, a rotatable table, a plurality of shim containing magazines on the table, means for rotating the table with intermittent movements, and shim transferring means positioned at the stations of rest of the rotatable table.

5 A shim assembling machine, comprising in combination, a rotatable table, a plurality of shim containing magazines on the table, means for rotating the table with intermit tent movements, shim transferring means positioned at the stations of rest of the rotatable table, and means operating the transferring means to remove a shim from each magazine at each station of rest.

6. A shim assembling machine, comprising in combination, a rotatable table, a plurality of shim containing magazines on the table, means for rotating the'table with intermittent movements, shim transferring means positioned at the stations of rest of the rotatable table, means operating the transferring means to remove a shim from each magazine at each station of rest, and means for receiving the transferred shims.

7. A shim assembling machine comprising in combination, a stationary supporting means, movable supporting means, magazines containing shims on one of the supporting means, shim receiving devices on the other of said supporting means, said movable supporting means moving with intermittent movements with periods of rest with the magazines disposed in close proximity to the shim receiving devices, and'shim transferring means for transferringa shim from-a magazine to a receiving device. 1

8. A shim assembling machine comprising in combination, a rotatable table support,

means for rotating this table with intermitof shim containing'magazines on thetable,

means for rotating the table with intermittent movements, shim transferring means-positioned at the stations of restoperable to remove a shim from a magazine during the periods of rest, and stationary rods" positioned at the stations of rest upon which the shims are deposited. V w

10. A shim assembling machine comprising in combination, a rotatable table, a plurality of shim containing magazines on the table, means for rotating the table with intermittent movements, shim transferring means positioned at the stations of rest operable to remove a shim" from a magazine during the periods of rest, and stationary rods positioned at the stations of rest upon which the shims are deposited, saidvmagazines and rodsbeing removably held on the machine.

11. A shim assembling machinecomprising in combination a rotatable table, a plurality of shim magazines on the table, means for rotating the'table with intermittent movements, shim transferring means operable to remove the shims from the magazines during each period of rest, and means for feeding the shims in the magazines.

12. A shim assembling machine comprising in combination a rotatable table, a plurality of shim magazines on the table, means for rotating the table with intermittent movements, shim transferring means operable to remove the shims from the magazines during each period of rest, a supporting de vice in each magazine for supporting the shims, and means for progressively raising these supporting devices in the magazines as the shims are removed therefrom.

13. A shim assembling'machine compris{ ing in combination a plurality of shim containing magazines for containing shims of various thicknesses, a plurality of shim receiving devices, means for effecting relative movement between the magazines and devices with periods of rest when the magazines and devices are in close proximity, and a plurality of movable transfer heads which move to and from the magazines and receiving devices for transferring the shims.

14. A shim assembling machine comprising in combination a plurality of shim containing magazines for containing shims of various thicknesses, a plurality of shim receiving devices, means for eifecting relative movement between the magazines and devices with periods of rest when the magazines and devices are in close proximity, and a movable transfer head for each device which moves to and from the magazines to the receiving device for transferring the shims, and means for effecting a partial vacuum in the head to lift a shim thereby said shim magazine being so that shims of various thicknesses are transferred in a predetermined sequence.

15. A shim assembling machine comprising in combination a plurality of shim containing magazines for containing shims of various thicknesses, a plurality of shim receiving devices, means for effecting relative movement between the magazines and devices with periods of rest when the magazines and devices are in close proximity, and a movable transfer head which moves to and from the magazines to a receiving device for transferring the shims, means for effecting a partial vacuum in the head to lift a shim thereby, and means for effecting air pressure in the head for ejecting the same, said shim magazines being so that shims of various thicknesses are transferred in a predetermined sequence.

16. A shim assembling machine comprising in combination a plurality of shim containing magazines for containing shims of various thicknesses, a plurality of shim re ceiving devices, means for effecting relative movement between the magazines and devices with periods of rest when the magazines and devices are in close proximity, and a movable transfer head which moves to and from the. magazines to a receiving device for transferring the shims, and means for alternately setting up a partial vacuum and air under pressure in the head whereby the shim is lifted from the magazine by vacuum, transferred from the magazine to the receiving device and ejected by air pressure said shim magazines being so that shims of various thicknesses are transferred in a predetermined sequence.

17. A shim aligning apparatus comprising a hopper for containing a plurality of loose shims including means for feeding the shims from the hopper, an inclined chute into which the shims are fed, means for vibrating the chute to cause the shims to slide down this ture.

IRVIN B. WINSLOW. 

